Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes wants his side to quickly end any hopes of Hearts pipping the Dons for second place in the Premiership.
The Dons require eight points from their final five matches to secure at least the runners-up position for the second consecutive season.
McInnes’ Reds finished last season with 75 points – a record top-flight points tally outwith Celtic or Rangers.
Having already accumulated 68 points with five matches remaining, the Dons are on course to surpass last season’s haul. But McInnes says consolidating second position is his side’s number one driving force as they approach the Premiership run-in.
He said: “That points tally was something we spoke about before the season.
“It was something that was worth trying to attain.
“We knew if we managed to beat last season’s tally it would be another good season.
“That is one of our aims now but the priority is to secure second spot.
“We are going to have to win a couple of games to make sure that is the case.
we have got the opportunity to do that.
“I am confident we can beat last season’s points tally but it is not our primary focus at the minute.
“That is on winning our next match at St Johnstone and hopefully securing second spot.”